Defenceman Trevor Murphy’s improved play on the ice for the Windsor Spitfires can be traced back to a summer conversation with associate coach Bob Jones.

“He said I have to get better in the (defensive) zone if I wanted to pursue this as a career,” the 18-year-old Murphy said. “I took it seriously.”

Murphy is among the top 10 in the Ontario Hockey League in plus/minus and leads the Spitfires at plus 13 heading into Thursday’s game against the Plymouth Whalers at the WFCU Centre (7:05 p.m., cable 11, live blog at windsorstar.com).

“Plus/minus can be an odd stat, but for Murphy it’s a good stat because he’s an offensive guy,” Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner said.

Murphy did not land on the plus side of the ledger in his first two seasons in the league. He was minus four in his rookie season in Peterborough and a combined minus 37 between Peterborough and Windsor last season.

“To me, it means a lot, especially as a defenceman, because it means you’re on the ice more when your team is scoring than when it’s being scored against,” said Murphy, who is a Sun County minor hockey product. “That’s what defence is all about.”

Boughner said Murphy’s improved play started in the summer when he took working out more serious.

“He started working out with us and Joe (Garland, the team’s athletic therapist) and I think that’s helping him,” Boughner said.

Bypassed in the NHL Draft, Murphy said he took the advice Jones gave him when he was a free agent invite at rookie camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which eventually led to an invitation to the club’s main camp.

“He simplified his game,” Boughner said. “Offensive chances for a defenceman come when you start paying attention to the smaller details in your own end.

“He’s become more physical in our end, he’s got a good stick and his gap is good.”

At five-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Murphy knows he’s not the biggest defender on the ice, but it’s still important to play with some form of physical presence in his game.

“I just want to have that edge in my game and it helps,” Murphy said. “It’s not always stick on puck. You have to use your body at the next level.”

Murphy has also thrived since being paired with overager Eric Diodati after the overager was acquired from Mississauga. Diodati is plus eight in 12 games with Windsor as the two form the club’s second defensive unit behind Nick Ebert and Slater Koekkoek.

“We’ve clicked and played well together,” Murphy said. “Plus, it’s easier playing against the other team’s second line compared to the first line, which is what happened last year with me and Nick with all the injuries.”

At the same time, it’s not hurt his game offensively. He has five points in his last four games and is on pace to easily outperform the 28 points in 65 games he posted last year.

“It’s my third year now, so you see the game slows down in a way,” said Murphy, who played his rookie season at 156 pounds. “I’m working on it and there’s still more work to do, but so far it’s been good.”

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